Friday 12th. November 2010

Following a phone call last night from a friend , and with reasonable weather , I headed off for Lullingstone Golf Course , having been told that Devil's Fingers had been found there on some wood chippings . As you can imagine , a Golf Course is a large area to look for a certain fungi , but I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of Greenkeepers in the car park , and they knew exactly what I was talking about , and pointed me in the right direction . Within a short period of time , I was looking at 30/40 specimens of Clathurus archerii , albeit not in the best of condition , not surprising given the rain and cold recently . Also the same number of egg sacks with the fungus still to emerge . So much for me posting that this species is rare ! They are rare , but when talking to a chap from the clubhouse , he told me that the fungi came in with the wood chippings that had been laid on a wet area for the parking of golf carts , so the numbers are artificial . It reminded me of the Early Spider Orchids at Samphire Hoe , that came in their thousands from the spoil taken from the Channel Tunnel , compared to the 5/10 that could be found elsewhere .

The sun actually showed , so I decided to have a walk through the farmland surrounding the Golf Course . The sun shone , but that wind was still blowing strongly , especially in that high , exposed position . The track I walked was lined with high Poplars , as a wind break , and high in these trees I encountered several small flocks of Fieldfares , this was the best shot I could get , as the tops of the trees were constantly on the move , and so were the birds as soon as I got anyway near . There were also a few Redwings amongst them and several small Finches , but they went unidentified as they too were skittish in the wind and I couldn't hear their calls above the wind either . Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and several Skylarks were also seen , but that was it apart from Corvids and Wood Pigeons .

Returning to the woodland areas on the Golf Course , I started finding the odd fungi :

Lactaria amethystea-Amethyst deceiver , still in good condition ,a troop of Inocybe maculata ,

and Clitocybe flaccida-Tawny Funnel Cap .But the weirdest specimen was this Xylaria polymorpha-Dead Man's Fingers , well named ,and a second specimen that should go under the common name of Dead Man's Hand , a relative of the Candle Snuff/Stag's Horn Fungus , and still plenty of Helvella crispa-White helvella around , it has really been a good year for this species .

Heading back to the car to go home for lunch , the skies clouded over and the first few rainspots were felt . By the time I had had lunch , it was raining , just as some people would have been leaving work , hoping for an afternoon's birding , and it hasn't stopped .

Tomorrow looks like a good weather day , and we are hedgelaying close to Leith Hill in Surrey , the highest point in the South East . I wonder if the Ravens that have nested in the area will put in an appearance ?